D-Bat 12U

[amazing]

Both of these kids are looking and thier current team just broke up. They have identified D-Bat as an organization that they are interested in. However I think they want to identify teams that thier DDs can make and help. Is Allen all 98s? Are they committed to that or open to all 12U eligible players? I dont think they are interested in playing for a rec team. Better than that. The pitcher is pretty good, throws in mid to high 40s and has a good bat. The catcher is very good defensively with an average/good bat. My original question to the bucket is how good is the current pitching and catching on these two teams? The parents asked me so I am asking you? Obviously ai recommened to them that they contact the coaces and go to the organizational try outs. Just looking for the extra little information they are interested in.

My advice would be to take them to the tryouts tomorrow and see if it's a good fit. I know you said the parents want to know first, but if they are interested in them, it shouldn't matter what they have currently. Allen is not all 98s but I don't know what their objective is in finding players and what age group etc. I'm not going to comment directly on individual players but keep in mind that in order to compete at the younger levels, good pitching/catching goes a very long way. They are definitely competitive, so that should tell you something.

Is Allen a one pitcher team? One catcher team? Or is there room for a couple of good ones? Will he consider 97s?

[justawatcher]

Is Allen a one pitcher team? One catcher team? Or is there room for a couple of good ones? Will he consider 97s?

I'll be honest, I really don't know. I do know that I have seen more than 1 player pitching as well as catching on that team. I'm not close enough to them however to know the status of the players currently on the roster. I would venture to say that most of the better teams in the area will take players based on their abilities. If a team has 3 pitchers and another pitcher comes to tryout that is better than one of the 3, the team would likely take 4 or cut 1. I'm assuming they will consider 97s since they already have 97s. You may have better luck directing these kinds of questions to Keith or to the organization directly.

[amazing]

Is Allen a one pitcher team? One catcher team? Or is there room for a couple of good ones? Will he consider 97s?

I'll be honest, I really don't know. I do know that I have seen more than 1 player pitching as well as catching on that team. I'm not close enough to them however to know the status of the players currently on the roster. I would venture to say that most of the better teams in the area will take players based on their abilities. If a team has 3 pitchers and another pitcher comes to tryout that is better than one of the 3, the team would likely take 4 or cut 1. I'm assuming they will consider 97s since they already have 97s. You may have better luck directing these kinds of questions to Keith or to the organization directly.

Thanks Watcher, see you tomarrow.

[softballfan3000]

The way D-bat is structured is by levels. If you are planning to attend a tryout this is info you may need. You cannot "compare" the 2 existing 12U teams. The team you play on depends on your skill level. Just because you tryout for Allen doesn’t mean that is the team you will have the option of being placed on. D-Bat has 4 levels. Developmental, local, regional and national levels. Allen is a National level team so it would make sense that they are more skilled than the local team which is Tolan. D-bat does not currently have a 12U regional team. Allen has a great group of girls and is expected to perform well this next year after all they are a national level team this is not a team that was just put together. I know that the Tolan team is still developing as you would expect from a local level team.

Bottom line is if your daughter is national quality she may be offered a position with Allen if she is not they may offer you a position on another team is it a regional that may join up or it is the local Tolan team. At the end of the day you have to choose your offer on what is best for your daughter and family. I also know BOTH of the 12u teams very well and what I have read so far in this forum about these 2 teams is not entirely accurate. I would suggest going on Saturday and deciding for yourself. Maybe take the time to attend a tournament or two that D-bat is playing and come to your own conclusion.

[pbj2000]

Nothing against d-bat i'm sure they have great program...but honestly...would you want your dd to be part of an organization that plans to have 4 teams per age group? Isn't that how players get lost in the shuffle? And also if Tolan is the "Local" level, has he been told that? I'm sure every coach that coaches at the select level considers themselves national contenders. If not then they aren't thinking big enough.

SO your telling me that once Tolan's players get good enough he's going to pass them off to the Regional and National teams and just be stuck with coaching the "Local" level team forever???

[tiltman]

If Keith's current #1 battery is a pair of 98's I doubt he would even look at them unless it was out of pure courtesy. Based on the description of your two players they are an average to decent pair of players and being 97's that can play a rare bird. Why wouldn't they try out for a 97 team? There a some out there looking that are decent teams and environments not 97 Glory by any stretch but decent teams.

[amazing]

If Keith's current #1 battery is a pair of 98's I doubt he would even look at them unless it was out of pure courtesy. Based on the description of your two players they are an average to decent pair of players and being 97's that can play a rare bird. Why wouldn't they try out for a 97 team? There a some out there looking that are decent teams and environments not 97 Glory by any stretch but decent teams.

I have received several PMs on this topic and it seems that the National team is indeed a one pitcher team. They have a 98 that is a big girl and throws very well. The other is average at best. Those that know the 97 I am refering to agree that she would be a major upgrade to the staff. May not be the case with the catcher. The question for the D Bat coach is weather he wants to take on a 97 and move the other girls to the local team??? Can they do that? Would they do that? They also told me that D Bat Allen turned down a 97 player last year that was clearly better than their second pitcher and most of the position players??? Why?? I guess I would recommend the parents try out but be prepared to cover thier bets. Also was told that Allen was bringing in an ex college player to help coach and getting rid of the dads in the dugout. Sounds like a solid move for a national level team.

[King Slade K Adkins]

Based on the description of your two players they are an average to decent pair of players and being 97's that can play a rare bird.

Yup, those good ol 97s can be a rare find!

[DBAT Softball]

Amazing,

It might be best to look elsewhere then for a team. We're doing a workout with some of our players tomorrow, and have opened up an invite for anyone who would like to meet any of the coaches or see us work with the kids prior to our tryouts that will be held in January.

That would have been a wonderful place to ask questions to Keith Allen, Jeff Tolan or myself. I just don't think any of our 12U coaches, would be interested in someone who jumps on Hey Bucket, and says things like a pitcher is "average at best" who is currently in our organization.

Regardless of talent, we're not accepting anybody into our program who would take this approach. Like anybody, we'll make mistakes on players/parents in the future...but this is an easy one. It's better that we don't waste each others time tomorrow. We really like the players, coaches and families that we have in our program right now and our in no way going to risk what we've built since August.

Instead of raising hypothetical questions on a message board, let me give you an easier way to answers:
Mark Mulvany
972-345-2474
Keith Allen
817-876-7636

[liveintex]

Great reply from Mark which is why I commented earlier that you need to quit asking questions and go to the source which we see is now not possible. Good job screwing up a potential opportunity for those 2 girls.